Die holder and guide



Feb. 22, 1938. B. c. DIMMICK 2,109,312

DIE HOLDER AND GUIDE Filed June 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llflllllllllll llH ll INVENTE'JFL T iii/Kw Feb. 22, 1938. B. c. DIMMICK 2,109,312

' DIE HOLDER AND GUIDE Filed June 1B, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllll Ill llllllllll been reduced to a Patented Feb. 22, 1938 2,109,312 m nomsn AND GUIDE Blees C. Dimmiek,

stone Steel 8; Wire poration of Illinois Peoria, 111., assignor to Key- Company, Peoria, 111., a cor- Application June 18, 1936, Serial No. 85,852

5 claims.

, This invention has reference to a combined dieholder, drawing die and centering device for use in the drawing of wire rods and wire.

The invention is capable of use in connection with continuous wire drawing practice as well as with single or double block machines.

The invention has for its object to improve wire drawing practice by the substantial elimination of scratches and the producing of slivers in the wire, due to the rod or wire not entering the drawing die, coaxially of the die, which is obviated by the use of the centering device of my invention, in its axial relation to the drawing die and the character of the support for mounting and holding said centering device and drawing die in coaxial relation.

The invention has for its further object to so guide the rod and wire to the drawing die, that the pressure exerted on the wire, as it enters the approach angle of the die, is equally distributed and the pitting and cracking oi. the die thereby eliminated. Misaligmnent of the wire, as it enters the, approach angle of the die, is and has been a common fault and common source of trouble in wire drawing practice, which has caused pitting and cracking of the dies, because of high local pressures which have been set up, due to misalignment and this increases considerably the cost, not only because of the waste due to such misaiigmnent, but also because larger sizes of dies are required with enlarged sizes of bells at the mouth of the die to guide the incoming wire into the approach angle of-the die. These faults are substantially eliminated by the use of my invention and permits the use of smaller sizes of die, than heretofore made possible.

I have found that due to a more perfect alignment of the wire, as it enters the approach angle of the die, and the attending equal pressure which is exerted around the approach angle of the die, because of such alignment, out-oi-round has been reduced to a minimum.

I have further found, that when drawing high carbon and spring wire, breaking of the wire has minimum, because of the equal pressuresset up. Furthermore, in the drawing of high carbon and spring wire, tests show a better grain structure; a more uniform tensile strength; better physical tests and better torsions or twists. The result is that the number of rejects have been reduced to a minimum and small bundles thereby eliminated.

The result of use oi the centering device, of my invention, insuring the wire being coaxial with the bearing portion of the drawing die, when it enters the approach angle of the die is, that when drawing high to a great extent, and

bon wire, the structure 01' carbon rope and spring wire, to a lesser degree in low carthe wire is superior,

due to the crystalline formation of the steel which results from the equal pressures and stresses exerted around the approach angle of the die.

I have further found that because of the equal pressures set up, die, due to a more will facilitate a better and drawing operation.

at the approach angle of the alignment of the wire, more uniform coating wire. This will allow the wire each successive step of the In fact, it has been demonperfect strated with my practice, that because of the better and more uniform coating wire, at times, may be of lubricant, the drawn an extra hole, be-

cause of such better coating of lubricant.

The construction of the holder and the arrangement and disposition of the drawing die and the centering device therein, is such, that the wire drawer is prevented from making any adjustment of either the die or centering device which might cause the wire That the invention may stood reference is had drawings forming which:

to be drawn of! center. be more fully underto the accompanying a part of this description, in

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing my invention in combined die holder,

drawing die and centering device assembled in operative,position in a lubrication and die holding box and a wire rod or wire in centered position and in the act of Fig. 2 is a plan being drawn; view of the die holder with the centering device shown the means of securing the same in the die holder; Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking at Figure 2; Fig. 4 is an end view looking at Figure 3, and Fig. 5 is a cross section in plan as the same would appear if taken on the line 55, Fig. 3,

In the drawings,

i designates the lubrication and die-holding box provided at its egress end,

out thru which the an opening 2 of sufficient the drawn rod or the box. At the is provided the opening 2 and movably secured a sort metal bushing 4 thru provided with a bell opening 5 is of a drawn rod or wire passes, with size or diameter so that wire will not rub as it leaves ingress end of the box there an opening 3, in axial alignment with in said opening 3 there is repreferably elongated brass or with an opening 5 thereshaped inlet 6. The diameter suillciently large to permit easy access of the rod or wire thereto and therethru. This bushing is secured in place in the box by a set-screw, not shown, but which engages threads I.

The combined die-holder, drawing die and centering device comprises, flrst-a unit consisting of two sectional housings 8 and 9 spaced a relatively short distance from each other and the two united by fixed spacing member In preferably welded at opposite ends to the respective housings. Each section of the housing has a recess or seat II and I2, respectively, opening out of its front face, which is toward the ingress end of the box and arranged in the rear wall of each section of the housing, concentric with its respective recess or seat, is an opening i8 and I4, respectively. When the unit is in operative relationship with the box I as illustrated, the axes of the openings H and I2 and the openings I2 and I4 thereof are in horizontal axial alignment with the openings 2 and 3 of the box and the opening 5 thru the bushing 4. The unit is removably secured in the box, with its rear wall abutting the rear wall 01' the box, by.means of a set-screw I! having a threaded relation with threads in an opening IS in an overhanging wall of the box and bearing against the section 8 of the unit housing. Secondly, there is provided a die-member l1 and a centering device IS. The die-member may be of any suitable material and is of a shape and size to fit snugly within the opening II in the sectional housing 8 and abutting the rear wall thereof and removably se cured in operative position by a set-screw Ila. This die is provided with an opening therethru in coaxial relation with the opening II in the housing section 8 and its opening I3 and with the opening 2 in the box I when assembled, as illustrated, and said opening includes the hearing portion IS, the approach angle 20 and the bell 2| forming the entranceway to such opening. The space between the housing sections 8 and 9 is only such as will permit the insertion and removal of the die in the housing section 8, and in this way the distance between the centering device, to be described, and the die is reduced to a minimum which results in the rod or wire being retained in coaxial relation with the die from the time it enters the centering device until it passes thru and from the die. The result being that scratching of the wire and the production of slivers is substantially obviated. Furthermore, by preventing misalignment of the rod or wire, as it enters the approach angle of the die, by reason of its being retained coaxial with the die by the centering device, the pressure exerted on the rod or wire within the approach angle of the die and approximately within the area at a is equally distributed, which will prevent pitting and cracking of the die and also reduce to a minimum, if not entirely eliminate the producing of out-of-round wire.

The centering device i8 preferably constitutes one member of an assembly seated and retained within the opening I2 of the housing section 9. This assembly, in addition to the centering device, comprises a guide 22 adapted for seating in the recess or seat l2 of said housing section 9 and when seated has abutting relation with the rear wall of said housing. Said guide is removahly secured in operative position in the housing 8 by a set-screw 22 and has a recess or seat 23 opening out of its inner end in which is seated said centering device i8. Also within the guide is arranged a brass or soft metal bushing 24 remov ably secured in position by a set-screw 21' with its inner end in abutting relation with the centering device and said bushing has an axial opening 25 therethru and a bell-shaped mouth 26. The opening 28 is of suflicient diameter to allow for the passage of a rod or wire "therethru without rubbing, being in eflect a guide for the rod or wire to the centering device and the latter has a preferably tapered opening 21 and a bellshaped mouth 28. The opening 21 at its exit end is normally slightly larger in diameter than the rod or wire to be drawn. The guiding elements and the die are in concentric and axial relation, as shown. It is important that the distance between the die and the centering device be the shortest possible so that said centering device will hold the rod or wire in as near perfect alignment with the bearing portion I! of the die, as possible. The bushing 24, in addition to its functioning as a guide, assists in straightening out any kinks, bends or twists in the rod or wire, as it leaves the reels, flippers or preceding block, as the case may be, supplementing the action of the bushing I which functions in a similar manner. In case of a knot or defect in the rod or wire the bushing 24 serves as a breaking or blocking point to protect the centering device I8 and in turn the drawing die ll. These elements are costly and their impairment or destruction will cause considerable loss and is to be avoided and is avoided with my improved method.

I have elected to show a preferred assembly of my invention which includes the box I adapted for receiving the unit with which is associated the centering device and die and which will also containa lubricant 29, if such is desirable or necessary. This lubricant may consist of cup grease, soap or a tallow mixture and if wet drawing the lubricant may consist of a soluble oil or a soft soap mixture. When drawing a rod, lubrication ls desirable but when drawing an already drawn wire, lubrication is not so necessary.

With my improved drawing practice, as outlined herein, where equal pressures are set up, at the approach angle of the die, due to the more perfect alignment of the wire, I obtain a better and more uniform coating of lubricant on the article being drawn. This will allow the article to draw better in each successive step of the drawing operations. In fact, as hereinbefore stated, I have demonstrated that because of a better and more uniform coating of lubricant, the article may be drawn an extra hole, because of such better coating of lubricant.

While I have elected to show the invention assembled in a preferred arrangement, I do not wish to be limited to such disclosure, because when employed in continuous drawing or with single or double block machines, the particular practice may require certain modifications, depending on the requirements of the machine or the particular mill which would employ the invention. By way of illustration, while the combined unit, that is the drawing die and the guiding device may have the assembled relation shown and supported by a holder, such holder need not necessarily be of the construction illustrated by the box I. With the form of box shown, I prefer the bushing arrangement where the rod or wire is introduced thereinto, but this construction may or may not be used depending on the particular operations involved.

What I claim is:

1. In rod or wire drawing, in combination, a pair of housings haying coaxial openings, a reits housing.

2. In rod or wire drawing, in combination, a

pair oi housings each having an opening, means for fixedly securing the housings in spaced relation and their openings coaxially disposed, a reducing die removably arranged in one housing, a centering device removably arranged in the other housing and both said die and centering device maintained in coaxial relation with each other and the openings in said housings: the space between the housings being open, and the die being removable through said space, the specing between the housings being only such as will permit the removal and replacement oi the die in its housing.

3. In rod or wire drawing, in combination, a pair of housings each having a seat and an opening, means fixedly securing said housings in spaced relation and their seats and openings coaxially disposed, a die removably arranged in the seat of one housing, a guide having a seat removably arranged in the other housing, a centering device removably arranged in the seat of the guide, a bushing removably arranged in the guide in advance of the centerin device, said centering device and said die being maintained in coaxial alignment. the die being removable through the space between the housings and the spacing between said housings being only such as will permit the removal and replacement of the die in its housing.

4. In rod or wire drawing, the combination of a pair of housings each having a seat and an opening, a reducing die removably arranged in the seat of one housing and formed with an opening therethru constituting the bearing, the approach angle and a bell of the die, a centering device removably arranged in the seat of the other housing and formed with a tapered opening therethru the exit end '0! which is slightly largen than the article guided therethru, means for fixedly securing said housings together in spaced relation whereby the die and the centering device are maintained in concentric and coaxial relation whereby pressure exerted on the article entering the approach angle of the die is equally distributed, the die being removable through the space between the housings and said housings being spaced apart a distance only saidcient to permit the removal and replacement of the die in its housing.

5. 1n rod or wire drawing, in combination, a pair or housings having coaxial openings, 8. reducing die removably arranged in one housing, a centering device removably arranged in the other housing, and both said die and centering device maintained in coaxial relation with each other and the openings in said housings; said housings being separated from each other with an open space therebetween, the die being removable axially of its housing and laterally though said space.

BLEEB C. DIMMICK. 

